Winning NHRA national events is nothing new to Doug Kalitta.

However, he did admit his 32nd career Top Fuel win Sunday at the Mile-High Nationals was more significant than most of his victories.

Kalitta clocked a 3.963-second time at 308.35 mph to defeat Brandon Bernstein in the finals. Bernstein came in at 4.003-seconds at 297.35 mph.

Winning NHRA national events is nothing new to Doug Kalitta.

However, he did admit his 32nd career Top Fuel win Sunday at the Mile-High Nationals was more significant than most of his victories.

Kalitta clocked a 3.963-second time at 308.35 mph to defeat Brandon Bernstein in the finals. Bernstein came in at 4.003-seconds at 297.35 mph.

“I tell you seeing that win light come on down there was real special, and a great relief,” Kalitta said. “They do a great job here. The facility each year gets better and better, and I’m just glad to finally get a win here. I’ve been close a lot of times and fortunately I got it done.”

Kalitta, by winning, added to the Kalitta family legacy at Bandimere Speedway.

Legendary Connie Kalitta, his uncle and team owner and his late cousin, Scott Kalitta, also were Mile-High Nationals Top Fuel champions. Connie won at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., in 1984 and ’85 and Scott was victorious three times in 1994, ’95 and 2004.

Doug had done plenty at Bandimere in the past, except win. He lost in the Mile-High Nationals finals in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2009.

This was Doug’s first win this season, after losing in the finals at Pomona, Calif., Phoenix, Charlotte, N.C., and St. Louis. Doug’s last victory was in 2009 at the Winternationals in Pomona.

When Doug came to the line against Bernstein, he knew he had a job to do.

“You just go up there and do the best that you can,” Doug said. “Brandon and Kenny (Bernstein), they’re great champions, and it always special to get past those guys. They had a good running car and Brandon was driving the heck out of that thing. It was a close race in the final, but fortunately we got the win.”
Kalitta is fourth in the point chase and Bernstein is sixth. Larry Dixon, who Bernstein beat in the semifinals, clinched the No. 1 spot for the Countdown to 1 playoffs on Sunday.

“Overall it was a good day,” Brandon Bernstein said. “We had the car, but the engine starting eating itself up down track and Doug came around us. Anytime you’re in the finals it’s a great day. It’s (a win) coming, but it’s frustrating getting there, especially when we know we’re right on the cusp of a victory.”

Doug, who has clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1, knows this win Sunday is a perfect momentum boost for his team.

“I’m happy we are locked into the Countdown and we want certainly have a car that can run up front and win,” Doug said. “This is really going to help our whole team and give us a little more confidence that we can run with these guys.”